Raptors finally back at Scotiabank Arena

It might have been just a pre-season game, but to the Toronto Raptors and their fans, Monday night's pre-season opener against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers felt like so much more.

TORONTO – It might have been just a pre-season game, but to the Toronto Raptors and their fans, Monday night’s pre-season opener against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers felt like so much more.

The Raptors were home — finally.

OG Anunoby scored 21 points to lead the Raptors 123-107 over the Sixers, a triumphant return in Toronto’s first game at Scotiabank Arena in 584 days.

“It sure feels good to be back,” coach Nick Nurse said. “There’s a buzz, a level of comfort. There’s an energy that translates from that crowd to the players. It does feel good.

“We didn’t think it was that bad down (in Tampa), but it feels a heck of a lot better to be back, let’s put it that way. I think the buzz in the place was probably a little bit more than you’re expecting in the pre-season.”

Justin Champagnie scored 10 of his 17 points in an entertaining second quarter that saw the bench provide a huge boost of energy and break the game open.

“It was pretty frenetic but that’s what we’ve been talking about is getting up and playing hard on defence, trying to knock the ball away and convert at the other end,” Nurse said. “They were doing that in kind of a heavy wave there for a while.”

Scottie Barnes had 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Precious Achiuwa and Svi Mykhailiuk had 13 points apiece, and Yuta Watanabe finished with 10.